President Barack Obama warned Monday that he "won't compromise" on his demands that the wealthiest Americans pay higher tax rates, digging in on the chief sticking point between the White House and Republicans as they seek a way to avert the "fiscal cliff."

REDFORD, Mich. — President Barack Obama warned Monday that he "won't compromise" on his demands that the wealthiest Americans pay higher tax rates, digging in on the chief sticking point between the White House and Republicans as they seek a way to avert the "fiscal cliff."

Obama brought his pressure-Congress campaign to the heart of industrial America, ripping lines from his own re-election bid as the nation inched closer to a perilous economic cliff. He said the country couldn't afford a "manufactured" crisis and pledged to cheering auto workers that he would fight to extend tax cuts for the middle class before they expire at year's end.

"That's a hit you can't afford to take," Obama declared.

Obama's campaign-style trip to Michigan came one day after he and House Speaker John Boehner met privately at the White House. While neither side would characterize the meeting, the mere fact that the two leaders talked face-to-face was seen as progress in negotiations to avoid a series of year-end tax hikes and spending cuts.

Republicans have long opposed Obama's call for higher tax rates on the wealthy, but some GOP lawmakers are suggesting the party relent on taxes in order to win concessions from the president on changes to benefit programs such as Medicare. Still, Boehner's office indicated Monday that the speaker wasn't ready to take that step.

"The Republican offer made last week remains the Republican offer," said Brendan Buck, a Boehner spokesman. He was referring to a GOP plan that offered $800 billion in new revenue over the next decade through reducing or eliminating unspecified tax breaks on upper-income earners, but not by raising tax rates.

In Michigan, Obama was more restrained in his remarks, never directly criticizing Republicans and keeping his focus more broadly on the need for Congress to act quickly to prevent a tax increase for middle class families. During his last trip outside of Washington, D.C. — to a toy factory in Pennsylvania on Nov. 30 — the president likened raising taxes on the middle class to a "lump of coal" for Christmas, a "Scrooge Christmas."

Obama saved his most pointed criticism for closely-watched measures in the state legislature that would prevent requiring non-union employees to financially support unions at their workplace. Drawing cheers, the president said the right-to-work legislation was more about politics than economics. "What they're really talking about is giving you the right to work for less money," Obama said.

At the Daimler Detroit Diesel plant, Obama hailed the company's plans to spend an additional $100 million to boost production in the U.S. He noted the importance of the auto industry's supply chain nearly four years after the government rescued carmakers General Motors and Chrysler.

White House press secretary Jay Carney, speaking to reporters traveling with Obama, reiterated that there could be no deal on the fiscal cliff without tax rate increases on the wealthiest Americans. But he said the president remains optimistic that both sides can reach an agreement.

"He's eager to get a deal and he believes a deal is possible," Carney said.

Obama's plan would raise $1.6 trillion in revenue over 10 years, partly by letting decade-old tax cuts on the country's highest earners expire at the end of the year. The president wants tax rates to rise on incomes over $200,000 for individuals and $250,000 for couples. Individuals earning more than $200,000 and couples making more than $250,000 would see their top rates rise from 33 percent and 35 percent to 36 percent and 39.6 percent, respectively.

Boehner's plan, in addition to calling for $800 billion in new revenues, also would cut spending by $1.4 trillion, including by trimming annual increases in Social Security payments and raising the eligibility age for Medicare from 65 to 67.

Popular Comments

Did I miss Obama's explanation of the spending cuts he intends to
invoke?All I hear from the White House is a new round of stimulus spending
and an extension of unemployment benefits. Our government is spending too much.
What's the
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2:30 p.m. Dec. 10, 2012

Top comment

lost in DC

West Jordan, UT

I thought all the dem apologists said it was the evil repubs who would not
compromise that were the root of all the stalemates. Here BO says he won't
move. Why is BO holding the economy and middle class tax cuts hostage so he can
continue his
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4:38 p.m. Dec. 10, 2012

Top comment

Fred44

Salt Lake City, Utah

Lost in DC,

The President tried to compromise in the summer of 2011
with Mr. Boehner and the tea party pulled the plug on that. Fool me once shame
on you, fool me twice shame on me.